What is an ethical government?

The last few elections for the office of President of the United States of America have contained much talk about values and ethics. I have friends of most political stripes here, but one common theme keeps coming though: ethical government. I keep noodling on the subject: what is an ethical government?

My thoughts:
An ethical government protects its citizens from unreasonable harms.

An ethical government provides a system for appropriate redress from unreasonable harms.

An ethical government helps its denizens when possible.

An ethical government does not play Nanny to its citizens, and as such will let adults be adults.

An ethical government is fair to all of its citizens. Fairness is not a commodity.

An ethical government does not dictate the thoughts of its citizens.

An ethical government protects the social fabric, subject to the above.

I have many thoughts on the appropriate expressions of each. I know some of my Libertarian friends may dispute some of the above being any part the role of government in their theories, and I respect this; but for purposes of this post I would appreciate it if any such would For This Post Only accept the above theories of mine for discussion. Yes, you may post disclaimers that This Is Not Your Usual Mode Of Thinking :)

Feedback?

A KoL History

For those of you who play KoL, somebody started a contest to write a history of the Kingdom. Nothing in it would be official, but it would at least hopefully be amusing. I decided to throw my hat into the ring - it was too small anyways - and wrote a little something. Since the contest is closed to new entries and there can't be any new judges to adjudicate the worthiness of it, it's safe for me to post it here(  behind a cut tag for the legions of you who couldn't care less. )